Being wrongfully terminated can do more than simply leave you unemployed and financially unstable; it can make you question your abilities as a worker, undermine your confidence and leave you wondering if you will ever find employment again. You may think that since one company fired you for a wrongful reason, you will face similar discrimination or harassment wherever you go. The truth is that most companies, particularly in San Francisco, take employee satisfaction very seriously.
The truth is that most terminations of employment are likely not illegal, but simply due to unfortunate but reasonable factors such as reducing expenses or being unhappy with performance. In an at-will employment state like California, such terminations are not uncommon. This is why it is important to consult with an attorney if you believe you have been wrongfully terminated. In order to recover any kind of compensation, you will have to prove that you were fired for an illegal reason, and not simply because of California’s at-will laws.
Reasons for unlawful termination generally include mistreatment such as harassment or discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, religion and more. An attorney who is familiar with employment law may be able to analyze the circumstances of your termination from a more critical and insightful perspective, comparing the treatment of other employees to the treatment you received and identifying ways to prove that you faced discrimination or harassment.
If you have solid evidence, such as an email or voice recording that proves you faced discrimination by your employer, then you truly may not need an attorney. But if you believe you were wrongfully terminated, and you are not quite sure how to go about proving it, enlisting the aid of an attorney is probably your best bet.